Surveillance system apparatus

Abstract

A surveillance apparatus including a platform defining a central axis; a plurality of fixed field of view cameras mounted to the platform and equiradially spaced about the central axis. Each camera has a fixed field of view over an angular range of about 90 degrees about the central axis such that the plurality of cameras define a fixed field of view of the area of 360 degrees about the central axis. At least one pivotable camera is preferably mounted to the platform and radially spaced from the central axis providing a mutable view about the central axis. A communications device is coupled to the fixed field and pivotable cameras to provide a continuous fixed field view of the area and a mutable view of the area.

Description

PRIORITY DATA AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE[0001]The instant application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 354,043, filed Jun. 11, 2010, entitled, “Wireless Industrial Surveillance System Apparatus Mount,” and which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]The present invention relates generally to a mounting apparatus arrangement for surveillance equipment preferably for use in wireless industrial surveillance.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]One type of camera used in known surveillance systems is a traditional Pan Tilt and Zoom (PTZ) camera, i.e., a camera having a field of view capable of pivot or rotation about at least two axes of rotation along with zoom capability. However, surveillance systems that employ a mounting arrangement with only a PTZ camera to view and monitor infractions within the area under surveillance may leave portions of the area unmonitored, i.e., dead space, when the camera pivots, tilts...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004]One preferred embodiment of the mounting arrangement provides a camera array pole mount that can provide one 360 degree fixed camera and one Pan Tilt and Zoom (PTZ) thermal camera zooming on a detected object while not losing the 360 degree fixed camera fields of view. For example, mounted cameras, radios, and PTZ cameras can be mounted on one platform, which can allow continuous fixed 360 degree of surveillance, while the PTZ can monitor and zoom on a mutable location and not lose the fixed fields of view.

Problems solved by technology

However, surveillance systems that employ a mounting arrangement with only a PTZ camera to view and monitor infractions within the area under surveillance may leave portions of the area unmonitored, i.e., dead space, when the camera pivots, tilts or zooms to one particular portion of the surveillance area because the camera is able to look at only one location at a time.

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